Lock Rekey Service
When you move into a new apartment on Flatbush Avenue, change roommates in Park Slope, or take over a commercial space near Atlantic Terminal, the question is rarely whether to change the locks — it's how to do it smartly. Lock rekeying lets you render every old key useless and issue a fresh set without pulling the hardware off the door. Broadway Locksmith and Automotive Corp sends trained, insured technicians directly to your location across Brooklyn, any time of day or night, to rekey your existing locks quickly and without unnecessary damage to your doors or frames.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
“Our mobile lock rekey service is especially useful for Brooklyn's mix of pre-war brownstones with original mortise lock hardware, modern Schlage and Kwikset cylindrical locks, and everything in between. Because the cylinder's internal pins are simply reconfigured to match a new key cut, you keep the same quality hardware you already trust — you just take full control of who holds a working key. Whether you're a homeowner in Bay Ridge, a landlord in Crown Heights, or a business owner near the Brooklyn Navy Yard, rekeying is often the most practical first step after any change in occupancy or security concern.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Brooklyn, we reach the Brooklyn area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
What Is Lock Rekeying and How Does the Process Work
A lock cylinder contains a series of spring-loaded pins stacked in pairs. When the correct key is inserted, the peaks and valleys of the key's cut align every pin stack precisely at the shear line, allowing the cylinder to rotate and operate the lock. Rekeying means a technician disassembles the cylinder, removes the existing driver and key pins, and replaces the key pins with a new set whose heights correspond to a completely different key cut. The lock body, the hardware, the door prep, and the strike plate all stay exactly as they are. Only the internal pin configuration changes, and the original keys no longer work.
This process applies to mortise lock cylinders — the style found in the vast majority of Brooklyn's older apartment buildings and brownstones — as well as standard cylindrical locks on knob and lever sets, deadbolts, padlocks, and even many electronic and smart lock platforms. A skilled technician can often rekey a door lock in under 20 minutes without leaving a single scratch on the finish. For properties with multiple entry points, all locks can frequently be rekeyed to operate on one master key, which simplifies daily life for building superintendents and property managers throughout neighborhoods like Bushwick and Bed-Stuy.
Our Lock Rekey Service: Residential, Commercial, and Everything in Between
Broadway Locksmith and Automotive Corp handles the full spectrum of rekeying needs Brooklyn throws at us. On the residential side, that means house lock rekey appointments for homeowners and tenants, door lock rekey calls after a breakup or a key goes missing, and rekeying whole lock sets when a family purchases a home in Ditmas Park and wants zero uncertainty about prior key copies. On the commercial side, a business lock rekey or commercial lock rekey is often a compliance necessity — when an employee departs, when access lists change, or when a new tenant takes over a retail space along Fulton Street. We also handle Yale lock rekey requests, which are common in the borough given how many older building intercom and lobby systems were fitted with Yale-format cylinders decades ago.
Our technicians are equipped to work with a wide variety of hardware and configurations right from the service vehicle — no shop trip needed. Here is a representative list of the specific rekeying and related lock services we perform: mortise lock cylinder rekeying, deadbolt rekeying, knob and lever cylinder rekeying, padlock rekeying, rim lock rekeying, schlage keyway rekeying, kwikset keyway rekeying, yale cylinder rekeying, master key system setup and rekeying, smart lock rekey and reprogramming, electronic access cylinder rekeying, apartment building common-door rekeying, mailbox lock rekeying, cabinet lock rekeying, desk lock rekeying, storage unit lock rekeying, garage side-door lock rekeying, gate lock rekeying, commercial glass door cylinder rekeying, office suite lock rekey set creation, multi-unit landlord rekeying programs, key-control system setup after rekeying, restricted keyway installation combined with rekeying, emergency rekeying after a break-in or attempted forced entry, and post-move-out tenant turnover rekeying for property managers. Each service is scoped to your specific hardware and situation before any work begins.
Mortise Lock Rekeying: Brooklyn's Most Common Door Hardware
Walk through virtually any pre-1970s Brooklyn apartment building — in Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, or Prospect Heights — and the locks on individual unit doors are almost always mortise locks. A mortise lock is a full-length lock body that sits inside a pocket (the mortise) cut into the edge of the door, integrating the latch, deadbolt, and sometimes a chain or night latch into one steel housing. The cylinder that accepts the key is a separate, removable component, which actually makes mortise lock rekeying straightforward for an experienced technician who carries the right plug followers, pinning mats, and pin kits for the various keyways in circulation across Brooklyn.
Because mortise hardware is expensive to replace and often irreplaceable in matching finish, rekeying is nearly always the right call rather than a full lock replacement. Our technicians understand the nuances of the many mortise lock variants in the field — from older domestic castings to current Mul-T-Lock and Medeco high-security cylinders — and carry a broad inventory of replacement pins to match the new key on the spot. If your building's super or landlord has questions about coordinating a building-wide rekeying program, our team can walk through the logistics of a master key set that gives residents individual control while preserving superintendent override access. Call 718-928-6720 any time — we answer 24/7 and can schedule a building walkthrough at your convenience.
Pricing Factors and What to Expect When You Call
No two rekeying calls are identical, so we do not quote flat rates that may not reflect your actual situation. The final price for a lock rekey depends on several honest factors: the type and brand of lock hardware involved (a basic Kwikset deadbolt and a high-security mortise cylinder with a restricted keyway require different time, tooling, and pin inventory), the number of locks being rekeyed in a single visit, the time of day (our technicians are available around the clock, and after-hours availability is reflected in the quote), and any travel distance involved within the Brooklyn service area. If parts are needed beyond standard pin kits — for example, a new cylinder plug for a damaged Yale lock, or a reprogramming module for a smart lock rekey — those are itemized clearly. Every caller receives a confirmed, exact price before our technician begins any work, with no surprise charges added afterward. To get a straight answer on your specific situation, call 718-928-6720 — our dispatchers are available 24/7 and will gather the details needed to give you an accurate, no-obligation quote.
Frequently asked questions
What does a locksmith actually do during a lock rekey appointment?+
A locksmith disassembles the lock cylinder at your door, removes the existing key pins from inside the plug, replaces them with a new set of pins sized to match a freshly cut key, reassembles the cylinder, and tests it thoroughly before handing you the new keys. The entire lock body stays in place. At Broadway Locksmith and Automotive Corp, our technicians also inspect the door alignment, strike plate condition, and overall hardware function while they are on site, flagging anything that could affect security — at no extra charge for the observation.
What is the meaning of a mortise lock, and can it be rekeyed like a regular lock?+
A mortise lock is a full-body lock mechanism that is installed inside a pocket carved into the door edge, as opposed to a bored cylindrical lock that sits in a round hole drilled through the door face. Mortise locks are extremely common in Brooklyn's pre-war apartment buildings. Yes, they can absolutely be rekeyed — the key cylinder is a removable component that a trained technician can extract, repin to a new key, and reinstall without disturbing the door or the mortise body itself. It is one of the most common rekeying jobs we handle across the borough.
How is a house lock rekey different from a full lock replacement, and which one do I need?+
A lock rekey changes only the internal pin configuration so existing keys no longer work — the hardware stays. A full lock replacement means the entire lock assembly is removed and new hardware is installed. Rekeying is sufficient when your lock is mechanically sound and you simply need to invalidate old keys — for example, after moving in, after a tenant moves out, or after losing a key. Replacement makes more sense when the lock is damaged, worn, outdated, or when you want to upgrade to a different security grade or lock style. Our technician will assess your hardware on site and recommend whichever option genuinely serves you better.
Who is the best locksmith Brooklyn NY property owners should call for commercial rekeying?+
The best measure of a commercial locksmith is whether they show up when promised, work without damaging your hardware, explain what they are doing, and confirm the price before starting. Broadway Locksmith and Automotive Corp is a 24/7 mobile operation staffed by trained, insured technicians who specialize in exactly this kind of work throughout Brooklyn — from small retail storefronts in Williamsburg to multi-unit residential buildings in East Flatbush. We do not subcontract commercial lock rekey calls; the technician who arrives is part of our own team and is accountable to us and to you.
Can a smart lock be rekeyed the same way as a traditional lock?+
It depends on the smart lock model. Many smart locks still use a traditional keyed cylinder as a backup entry method, and that cylinder can be rekeyed just like any other. The electronic or Bluetooth access credentials — PIN codes, app-based access, key fobs — are handled through a reprogramming process rather than mechanical repinning. Some smart lock platforms allow full credential resets in minutes; others require replacing a specific module. Our technicians are familiar with the most widely used smart lock systems in Brooklyn residential and commercial settings and can advise you on the right approach for your specific device during the same service visit.
How much does an emergency locksmith cost for a rekey after a break-in or security incident?+
We do not publish flat rates because the actual cost depends on real variables: the type of locks involved, how many cylinders need to be rekeyed or replaced, any damage that occurred during the incident, and the time of day. What we can tell you is that every caller receives a firm, upfront price before our technician touches anything — there are no surprise fees added after the job. If an emergency rekeying is needed after a break-in attempt near your home or business in Brooklyn, call 718-928-6720 immediately. We answer 24/7 and can dispatch a trained, insured technician to your location, often within the hour.